L'Auditori de Barcelona has taken a giant step forward in terms of accessibility and cultural inclusion by announcing the incorporation of Relaxed Sessions into its regular artistic program. Victor Medem, and the director of Apropa Cultura, Sonia Gainza, present a pioneering initiative in Spain in the field of symphonic music that breaks with exclusionary models and integrates diversity into the seasons of the Barcelona Symphony and National Orchestra of Catalonia (OBC) and the Barcelona Municipal Band (BMB).
The presentation event, held today, October 16, 2026, also featured the voices of Ramon Pujadas, president of the Tourette Catalonia Association, and Martí Guasteví, clarinetist of the BMB.
What are Relaxed Sessions and who are they for?
Relaxed Sessions are concerts open to all audiences that relax the rules of concert halls to facilitate attendance for people who, due to their specific characteristics or needs, find insurmountable barriers in conventional formats. They are especially aimed at people with autism, intellectual disability, Alzheimer's disease or situations where rigid rules of absolute silence and immobility hinder the experience.
In these concerts, the audience has the freedom to enter and exit the hall during the performance, move freely or express emotions with complete naturalness. As Sonia Gainza rightly pointed out during the meeting, sharing a concert with people who experience music in different ways generates enriching empathy and a sense of community: «It allows us to understand that there are many ways to listen to and enjoy music, and that all can have a place in the same experience».
This flexibility reduces limiting factors such as stress, sensory overload or uncertainty. Along the same lines, Ramon Pujadas emphasized the importance of informing and understanding diverse realities, such as the involuntary tics of Tourette's syndrome, arguing that betting on inclusion «is what is called for».
A successful model inspired by great European references
L'Auditori's commitment gathers the testimony of major cultural institutions in Europe—with a special emphasis on France through the Culture Relax association—that already successfully implement this format. International reference centers such as the Philharmonie de Paris, the Opéra Orchestre national Montpellier, the Orchestre philharmonique de Strasbourg, and the Auditorium–Orchestre national de Lyon already demonstrate that the flexibilization of hall codes enriches the musical ecosystem.
Furthermore, L'Auditori complements this accessibility with a sensitive pricing policy attuned to the economic reality of users. A 30% discount on tickets is applied for accredited disabled individuals and their companion, with the latter's ticket being completely free when justified assistance is required.
A natural evolution committed to society
Accessibility is not new to this house. It is worth remembering that in 2006, L'Auditori was the birthplace of Apropa Cultura, the well-known social inclusion initiative through the arts. Projects such as La Banda ens apropa, Un matí d'Orquestra, the use of anticipation guides, subtitling, and sign language interpretation are already part of the equipment's DNA.
The Relaxed Sessions are part of the orchestra's regular artistic cycle. For musicians, this transformation also entails deep learning. As clarinetist Martí Guasteví has confessed from the stage perspective, knowing the audience's reactions beforehand helps to embrace emotional diversity naturally: «These are concerts that are experienced with great intensity and help us to be more empathetic».
Four major events scheduled for the 2026-2027 season
During this season, L'Auditori will offer a total of four Relaxed Sessions integrated into the usual calendar. On December 12, 2026 (7 PM) it will be the turn of Orchestra Taste: The Nutcracker by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, performed by the OBC; on April 3, 2027 (7 PM) will come Felix Mendelssohn's Italian Symphony, under the baton of Ludovic Morlot and with Luis Cabrera as solo double bassist.
On April 4, 2027 (6 PM) one can enjoy an afternoon of musicals by the Barcelona Municipal Band (BMB), with the voices of Ana San Martín, Daniel Anglès, and Sergi Cuenca; and on May 15, 2027 (7 PM) there will be an Orchestra Taste: Also sprach Zarathustra by Richard Strauss, performed by the OBC.
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